Hat storage and transportation bag



Original Filed 001:. 7, 1938 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 n l? iii:

ATTORNEYS Sept. G l |c soN HAT STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION BAG Original Filed Oct. '7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 7. 1938, Serial No. 233,840 Renewed February 26, 1940 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of 1118- gage making and more particulary to a hat storage and transportation bag.

The storage and transportation of hats has always been a rather perplexing problem and hat boxes of the rigid type which have normally been used in the past for such purposes have been a source of great annoyance. This is particularly true in automobile travel where space 9 is at a premium.

The principal object of my present invention is, therefore, to provide a convenient hat carrying means which will protect the hat against normal damage such as chaifing, moths, dust,

rain, and the like.

Another important object of my present invention is to provide a convenient and economical hat cover so that the cost will be relatively low and a separate container can be provided for each of several hats and, further, because of the fact that I prefer to make my hat bag of thin, foldable material the bag can be folded into a relatively small package when not in use. This is of particular value when, as in the summertime it is desired to wear a large hat, and carry a smaller one, such as a tam or beret, which together with the hat bag can be folded and placed in a small space; then if conditions change and it is desired to carry the large hat, the relaao tively large bag can be unfolded and the hat, when put in place, will be adequately protected from all normal causes of damages. For use as storage containers my hat bag serves fully the functions of large hat closets as they provide 35. complete security from moths.

I further provide my hat bag with means for centering a hat in the bag and supporting it in this central position so as not to damage the brim.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a hat bag made after the teachings of my present inven- 5 tion.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing a section through the upper margin of the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view through my hat bag showing a hat in place therein.

Figure 4 is a perspective View showing my hat bag folded with the supporting member for the {lat also folded therein and shown in dotted outine.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing my hat 55 bag, open, in position ready to receive a hat.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing the inner surface of my hat bag insofar as it relates to the anchoring means for the hat centering device.

Figure '7 is a perspective view showing my hat centering means fully assembled and detached from my bag.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of the inner surface of the bag showing the portion of Figure 6 but with the centering cone secured in place thereon.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the centering and supporting cone partly assembled for use.

Figure 10 shows my centering cone collapsed in the condition ready for folding such as is indicated in Figure 4.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view through one side of my hat bag with the centering cone in position and with the securing means therefor unsnapped.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like'reference characters indicate like parts, l2 generally designates the body of my hat bag. This may be made of any suitable material. Oiled silk has proved to be very satisfactory in that it is light weight, water-proof, and inexpensive. However, many of the transparent cellulose materials might be satisfactorily used, as might any woven fabric of reasonable fineness so that it can be folded compactly and will be Woven closely enough to exclude dust and moths particularly.

At each end of the bag I prefer to turn the material back on itself so as to form folded over edges of reasonable extent as at M and Hi. This normally will provide sufficient room for two spaced rows of stitching at l8. In order to provide reasonable stiffness at the upper and lower margins of the bag, I prefer to use a stiffening as 20 between at least one of the folds in the material. This stiffening may be fibre or metal although for ordinary use I find that a stiffening material such as buckram is quite sumcient and very satisfactory.

As a convenient means of carrying my bag I provide the handle members as 22 and 23. These may be of light material and are preferably crossed over and stitched to opposite sides of the bag as is illustrated at 25 and 26. In this way the handle portions tend to stay together and provide in effect a single handle.

To follow out more fully my scheme of providing a dust and water tight enclosure for a hat I prefer that the closing member be the so called hook fastener as is illustrated at 28. This has been found to provide a more positive and certain closure than snap fasteners or buttons or any folded or flap arrangement, in that there is no openings for dust, moths, or the like, to work into the interior of the bag.

It is very desirable, particularly when a bag is made for finer hats, either the broad rimmed mens hats or the lighter weight womens hats, to provide a central supporting or centering member. This is probably best shown in Figures '7 to 11, inclusive, and consists essentially of a truncated cone member, formed normally of material similar to the bag, having an outer covering 30. This is preferably sup-ported by some stiffening material which might be of any of the cellulose family, or buckram, or like material indicated at 32. In order to provide that the bag can be easily folded for storage or for carrying when it is not enclosing a hat it has been found most desirable to slit this cone on each side for at least a portion of its depth as illustrated in Figures 7 and 9, or it may be made of two pieces and joined at the lower margins as at 34. Then I provide snap fasteners so that when the device is to be used, the snap fasteners 36 are engaged and a solid cone as shown in Figure '7 is produced that, even though made of reasonably light material, will have reasonable rigidity, sufficient to hold a hat in place.

To secure the cone in position in the bag I provide preferably a plurality of 1ight straps or tapes as 38 and 40 which are sewed to the bag material throughout their length with the exception of the ends thereof after the showing of Figure 6. These ends are provided with female portions d2 of snap fasteners adapted to engage male portions 44 which are secured to the cone member, the manner of using the engaging means is probably best illustrated in Figures 8 and 11.

Method of use In employing my hat bag it will be normally stored or carried in its folded form as is illustrated in Figure l. In making it ready for use it is most desirable to spread it out on a flat sur- N teners so that the cone is secured in position after the showing of Figures 5 and 8. The bag is then ready for use and the hat H is laid on the cone,

which fits into the crown of the same. The brim of the hat is then tucked under the flap of the bag as 52 and 53 until it lies in its normal position. The fastener 28 is thenclosed and the hat is held securely on the cone and will be held in that position as the hat is carried.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a hat-bag of flexible material having a closed bottom wall, a slotted top wall and a closure for said top wall, and closed exterior edges, the combination of a removable hat-support, crossed retaining straps secured at their centers to the inner face of the bottom wall and with their edges adapted to overlap said support, and co-acting means at the free ends of the straps and on the support for fastening the support within the bag.

2. In a hat bag of flexible material having a closed bottom Walland an openable upper wall, the combination with a plurality of straps secured at their centers to the inner face of said bottom wall and fastening devices at their free ends, of a hat support located Within the bag in position to receive the free ends of the straps, and complementary fastening devices on said hat support for co-action with the fastening devices of the straps.

3.. In a foldable hat bag of flexible material having a closed bottom wall and an openable upper Wall, the combination with a foldable hatsupport in the shape of a truncated-cone, of a plurality of intersecting straps secured at their centers to said bottom wall within the bag, and co-acting fastening means on said hat-support and the free ends of said straps for retaining the support in position.

4. A hat-bag of flexible material and rectangular shape. having a closed bottom wall, closed edges, a slotted top wall and a slide-fastener for closing the top wall, said bottom wall also having a pair of crossed straps secured at their central portions on the inner face of the bottom wall, a removable hat-support in the shape of a truncated cone mounted on said straps beneath the slotted top wall, said straps having free ends to overlap the hat support, and complementary coacting fasteners on said hat support and the free ends of the straps.

GRACE. I. DICKSON. 

